AFTER conducting thousands of investigations, involving the sad and the tragic, the strange and downright mysterious, Rochdale's coroner Barrie Williams is shortly to record his final verdict.

The 65-year-old solicitor, coroner of not only Rochdale, but Bury and Oldham as well, will shortly hand over the role to 48-year-old Simon Nelson, who is currently the deputy coroner at Bolton.

Mr Williams, who was educated in Wakefield and graduated from Kings College, London, was articled in Oldham and qualified as a solicitor in 1961. He became a partner in a local firm specialising in criminal, matrimonial and licensing matters. He was appointed deputy coroner in 1979, became acting coroner in 1993 following the resignation of Bryan North and was appointed coroner in 1995.

The duty of a coroner is to investigate deaths, which do not appear to be natural and Mr Williams has presided over a host of difficult and unusual cases requiring care and sensitivity.

Among the most "memorable" was the woman who died from an allergic reaction to peanuts during a flight, a Jehovah's Witness who passed away after refusing a blood transfusion after a road accident and a diver whose death in Dubai waters may have been the result of a "hit."

Some hearings attracted national publicity, including police inspector Ray Codling shot dead at Birch Service Station - his killer later committed suicide. There was also the fireman who drowned while trying to save a youngster in a lodge and a scout who died after a fall in Ashworth Valley.

Mr Williams said: "You have a great responsibility to exercise human understanding and sensitivity while maintaining objectivity. The job is so wide-ranging that sensitivity and some psychology are vital."

Away from his work, Mr Williams, a father of two and a grandfather who lives in Greenfield, has been associated with the Saddleworth Music Society for 30 years. He has conducted the world-famous Huddersfield Choral Society and has been a member of his church choir for 50 years. A cricket enthusiast, Mr Williams is a former vice-president of the Royal Oldham Hospital Scanner Appeal.